Grand Jury Report Targets Animal Care

To improve its handling of animals, the county’s Animal Care Services needs to conduct a nationwide search for a shelter director, hire a chief veterinarian and review staffing levels, the grand jury said Monday.

Animal Care Services handles more than 50,000 animals a year, but the agency “has not always met our high expectations,” jurors noted.

Jurors found that the animal shelter’s managers and staff repeatedly neglected to follow their own policies regarding treatment of sick and injured animals by not making daily rounds, inappropriate handling of controlled substances and premature euthanasia.

The report also noted many recent positive changes such as individual cat cages instead of “gang cages,” extended daily hours, and a computerized inventory and licensing system.